OBSERVATOIRE DE JUVISY-SUR-ORGE - OBSERVATOIRE CAMILLE-FLAMMARION

This popular observatory of astronomy history enthusiasts was founded by Camille Flammarion himself in 1883. Flammarion was a French astronomer (1842-1925) particularly active in terms of scientific extension. He owes him extremely popular books, still published today, as his famous Popular Astronomy (1880) in which he described the sky in a masterful manner, or the Plurality of Inhabited Worlds (1862), an exciting study where he exposed the conditions of livability and living elsewhere than on Earth. He also created the Astronomical Society of France in 1887, always very active in the extension of astronomy. Still today, Camille Flammarion remains present for many amateur astronomers (and some professionals) whose children or studies have been lulled through their exceptional works.

Juvisy-sur-Orge observatory has an atypical history: In 1882, Flammarion inherited a former building from Louis-Eugène Meret, one of his many admirers, who was more without heir, and decided immediately to make it an observatory. In 1910, he commissioned Daniel Roguet, a renowned architect, to construct a spectacular sundial above the entrance door. It follows decades during which the place is very active, with many astronomers working there until the Second World War, transforming Juvisy into a great place of French astronomy! In the early 1960 s, the observatory was bequeathed to the Astronomical Society of France. With the years and growing notoriety of the building in French heritage, the observatory is classified as a historic monument in 2009. Long in poor condition, under the impetus of the Astronomical Society of France, the municipality of Juvisy and various patrons and subsidies, major restoration and rehabilitation work of the bezel, dome and main building are carried out.

The observatory visit takes place via the Astronomical Society of France. It is possible to visit the upper part of the observatory, including the restored dome, and enjoy a rigorous description of the history of this scientific place not like the others. The rest of the building is closed for security reasons (SAF, as well as the Friends of Camille Flammarion, are still waiting for grants for the rehabilitation of the whole). Depending on the weather, observations to the large 240 mm diameter of diameter sheltered under the dome are possible (prior information). Note that a beautiful park surrounds the building, accessible from 1 p. m. to 7 p. m. from April to September inclusive, and from 1 p. m. to 5 p. m. from October to March included, in which you can find traces of the experiences of Flammarion in its time, but above all its very moving tomb.